Car strikes utility pole, causing power outage

A utility pole was damaged early Tuesday morning after a hit-and-run accident near Ninth and Mississippi streets, and it caused a power outage for thousands of Lawrence customers.

More than 1,200 customers in central Lawrence were without power at 8 a.m., but Westar Energy crews restored power to nearly all customers by 10 a.m.

According to a Lawrence police report, witnesses said a gray 1990s model Oldsmobile four-door car left the parking lot of Rick's Place, 846 Ill., and sped east onto Ninth Street. The car slid across Ninth Street and then struck a utility pole, according to the accident report.